Snow melting system, apparatus, and method

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and apparatus for melting snow. The snow melting system may include a container having a cavity that is at least partially filled with a liquid. There should be a sufficient amount of liquid in the container to submerge a heating section of a heating assembly that is located within the cavity. The heating assembly is operably coupled to a source of steam, such as the steam generated from a boiler or steam generator in an existing building. The heating assembly may also include a condensate recovery section that is configured to flow condensate from the steam back into the liquid in the cavity of the container. The snow melting system also includes a spray assembly that pumps the heated liquid to a plurality of sprayers that then spray the heated liquid back down onto snow placed within the cavity of the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/482,267, filed Apr. 6, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Large snowfalls can be a nuisance to commuters and others desiring to travel from one place to another. For example, snow on the roadways makes it quite difficult for commuters to get to work safely and on time. Snow on sidewalks makes it difficult for people to get around, including for students at universities to make it to class, for city dwellers to go about their daily routines, and for general daily activities. Conventionally, large snowfalls are dealt with by driving trucks with snow plows coupled thereto along the roads to push the snow off of the roads. Similarly, snow blowers on sidewalks blow the snow from the sidewalks to another location. Individuals also use shovels to move the snow from their driveways and personal walkways to another location. None of these snow removal techniques actually gets rid of the snow; they simply move the snow from its more burdensome location on the street or sidewalk to a potentially less burdensome location. Thus, a need exists for an improved technique for snow removal that overcomes the deficiencies in the currently used practices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system, method, and apparatus for melting snow. The snow melting system may include a container having a cavity that is at least partially filled with a liquid. There should be a sufficient amount of liquid in the container to submerge a heating assembly that is located within the cavity. The heating assembly is operably coupled to a source of steam, such as the steam generated from a boiler or steam generator in an existing building. For example, a facility may have a boiler or steam generator for heating the facility, heating water, or hygienic purposes. The heating assembly of the snow melting system can tie into the steam generated by those existing boilers and steam generators to obtain the required heat for melting the snow. The heating assembly may also include a condensate recovery section that is configured to flow condensate from the steam back into the liquid in the cavity of the container. The snow melting system also includes a spray assembly that pumps the heated liquid to a plurality of sprayers that then spray the heated liquid back down onto snow placed within the cavity of the container.

In one aspect, the invention may be a snow melting system comprising: a source of steam; a container defining a cavity having an open top end; a liquid in the cavity; a heating assembly positioned within the cavity, the heating assembly comprising: a heating section operably coupled to the source of steam and submerged in the liquid so that steam from the source of steam flows through the heating section to heat the liquid; and a condensate recovery section operably coupled to the heating section, the condensate recovery section having an outlet providing a passageway into the cavity of the container so that condensate from the steam flows through the condensate recovery section and into the liquid in the cavity; and a spray assembly fluidly coupled to the liquid in the cavity, the spray assembly comprising a plurality of sprayers located above the liquid in the cavity and a pump for pumping the liquid from the cavity to the sprayers, wherein the sprayers are configured to spray the liquid back into the cavity.

In another aspect, the invention may be a snow melting apparatus comprising: a container having a floor and an inner surface that define a cavity having an open top end, the cavity having a lower portion adjacent the floor and an upper portion adjacent the open top end; a heating assembly positioned within the cavity, the heating assembly comprising a heating conduit located within the lower portion of the cavity, the heating assembly configured to heat a liquid contained within the lower portion of the container; a spray assembly comprising an inlet positioned in the lower portion of the cavity, a plurality of sprayers located above the lower portion of the cavity, and a pump configured to pump a liquid from the lower portion of the cavity to the sprayers, the sprayers configured to spray the liquid back into the cavity; and a support member positioned within the cavity between the heating conduit of the heating assembly and the open top end of the cavity, the support member at least partially covering the heating conduit of the heating assembly.

In yet another aspect, the invention may be a method of melting snow comprising: a) providing a snow melting apparatus comprising a container having a cavity with an open top end and a heating assembly positioned within the cavity; b) at least partially filling the cavity of the container with a liquid until a heating section of the heating assembly is submerged in the liquid; c) coupling the heating assembly to a source of steam so that the steam flows through the heating section of the heating assembly and heats the liquid in the cavity to form a heated liquid having a desired temperature; d) placing an amount of snow in the cavity via the open top end of the cavity; and e) pumping the heated liquid to a plurality of sprayers that spray the heated liquid onto the snow within the cavity to melt the snow.

In still another aspect, the invention may be a snow melting system comprising: a source of steam; and a snow melting apparatus comprising: a container defining a cavity having an open top end; a liquid in the cavity; a heating assembly positioned within the cavity, the heating assembly comprising: a heating section submerged in the liquid; and a condensate recovery section operably coupled to the heating section, the condensate recovery section having an outlet providing a passageway into the cavity of the container; wherein the heating assembly is operably coupled to the source of steam so that steam from the source of steam flows through the heating section to heat the liquid; and wherein condensate from the steam flows through the condensate recovery section and into the liquid in the cavity via the outlet.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front left perspective view of a snow melting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is front right perspective view of the snow melting apparatus of FIG. 1A

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the snow melting apparatus of FIG. 1A with a support member thereof in an open state;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the snow melting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heating assembly and a spray assembly of the snow melting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5 is a front left perspective view of the snow melting apparatus of FIG. 1A with the support member and a protective member removed;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the snow melting apparatus of FIG. 1A with the support member and the protective member removed;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 1A

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1A illustrating a cavity of a container of the snow melting apparatus being filled with a liquid;

FIG. 9 is the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 illustrating a snow melting system that includes the snow melting apparatus of FIG. 1A operably coupled to a source of steam so that the steam flows through the heating assembly to heat the liquid in the cavity of the container;

FIG. 10 is the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 illustrating snow being added into the cavity of the container;

FIG. 11 is the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 illustrating the liquid in the cavity being pumped through the spray assembly and sprayed onto the snow to melt the snow; and

FIG. 12 is the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 illustrating the melted snow being removed from the cavity of the container through an outlet port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-3 concurrently, a snow melting apparatus 100 will be described in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The snow melting apparatus 100 is intended to melt snow and turn it into water that can be discharged to a desired discharge location such as a storm drain or outlet. Thus, the melted snow can be discharged to a desired location such as a storm drain where it may be transported to a water treatment facility, to a body of water, or into the ground. Regardless of the location to which it is transported, melting the snow removes it from sidewalks, roadways, and other locations where it is not wanted.

The snow melting apparatus 100 generally comprises a container 110, a heating assembly 210, a spray assembly 250, a support member 150, and a protective member 140. The heating assembly 210 is a pipe or a network of pipes (or conduits) through which steam flows. The spray assembly is also a pipe or a network of pipes (or conduits) through which a heated liquid (heated by the steam) flows to one or more sprayers so that the heated liquid can be sprayed onto snow located within the container. The heating assembly 210 heats a liquid that is located within the container 110 and the heated liquid is used to melt the snow as described in more detail herein. The support member 150 at least partially covers the heating assembly 210 so that snow that is dumped into the container 100 will not come into direct contact with the heating assembly 210 because such direct contact could cause a violent flashing reaction (i.e., a steam explosion) as the cold snow contacts the hot conduits of the heating assembly 210. The protective member 140 forms a protective covering for portions of the spray assembly 250 to prevent snow that is being dumped into the container 110 from damaging those portions of the spray assembly 250. The snow melting apparatus 100 is configured to be operably coupled to a source of steam 300 (FIG. 10) during operation to facilitate melting of snow using the heat of the steam. A snow melting system 1000 is formed when the snow melting apparatus 100 is operably coupled to the source of steam 300 (FIG. 10).

In the exemplified embodiment, the container 110 is a dumpster. However, the invention is not to be so limited and the container 110 may be any structure that defines a cavity that is sufficiently large to hold the heating assembly 210 and other components therein. Thus, the container 110 may be specifically manufactured and designed for the snow melting apparatus 100 or it may be recycled from prior uses such as by utilizing a dumpster. Regardless, the exact type of device used for the container 110 is not to be limiting of the present invention in all embodiments.

The container 110 comprises a floor 114 and a sidewall 115 extending from the floor to a top end 116. The sidewall 115 has an outer surface 111 and an inner surface 112. The inner surface 112 of the sidewall 115 and the floor 114 collectively define a cavity 113 within which the snow melting takes place. The cavity 113 has an open top end 117 through which liquid and snow can be inserted into the cavity 113 of the container 110. Thus, liquid can be poured into the cavity 113 through the open top end 117 and snow can be dumped into the cavity 113 through the open top end 117. The container 110 is square or rectangular in shape in the exemplified embodiment, but the invention is not to be so limited and the container 110 may take on other shapes in other embodiments. For example, the container 110, and hence also the cavity 113, may be circular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or the like or the container 110 and the cavity 113 may have irregular shapes. The heating assembly 210, the spray assembly 250, and the support member 150 are at least partially housed or otherwise positioned within the cavity 113 of the container 110.

The container 110 includes an outlet port 101 for permitting liquid within the cavity 113 of the container 110 to exit the cavity 113 during the snow melting process as described below. The outlet port 101 is used for modulating the water level in the container 110 during the snow melting process and can be used to completely drain the container 110 when a melting session is complete. Thus, when the outlet port 101 is open, liquid in the cavity 113 of the container 110 can flow out of the container 110. A hose or other conduit or piping may be coupled to the outlet port 101 to direct the exiting liquid to a desired discharge location.

In the exemplified embodiment, the outlet port 101 is an opening formed through the sidewall 115 of the container 110 from the inner surface 111 to the outer surface 112. Of course, the outlet port 101 could alternatively be formed into the floor 114 of the container 110 instead of (or in addition to) the sidewall 115. Either way, when the outlet port 101 is open and liquid within the cavity 113 has a liquid level that is at or above the outlet port 101, the liquid will flow out of the cavity 113 through the outlet port 101. Alternatively, a pump may be included that forces the liquid to flow through the outlet port 101 as desired. Although a single outlet port 101 is illustrated in the exemplified embodiment, multiple outlet ports 101 could be used in other embodiments. Moreover, the diameter of the outlet port 101 can be modified as needed to ensure that the melted snow/liquid is capable of flowing out of the cavity 113 with a desired flow rate to ensure that the cavity 113 does not overflow.

In the exemplified embodiment, a flow control mechanism 105 is located along a conduit that is coupled to the outlet port 101 to control the flow of the liquid from the cavity 113 to the exterior environment through the outlet port 101. Of course, the exact location of the flow control mechanism 105 may be modified from that which is illustrated in the exemplified embodiment while still achieving the same purpose. Thus, the flow control mechanism 105 may be closed, thereby preventing the liquid from exiting the cavity 113 through the outlet port 101, or the flow control mechanism 105 may be open, thereby permitting the liquid to exit the cavity 113 through the outlet port 101. The flow control mechanism 105 may be capable of being open to varying degrees to control the flow rate of the liquid through the outlet port 101. In some specific embodiments, the flow control mechanism 105 may be an outside screw and yoke (“OS&Y”) gate valve. However, the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the flow control mechanism 105 may be other types of valves, such as other gate valves, ball valves, diaphragm valves, butterfly valves, check valves, needle valves, or the like.

In some embodiments, a conduit, hose, or other appropriate piping may be coupled to the outlet port 101 and extend to a desired discharge location, such as a sewer drain in a street or sidewalk. Specifically, as noted above, when the outlet port 101 is open, the liquid will flow out of the cavity 113. If the snow melting apparatus 100 is located far away from a sewer drain or other drainage location, the liquid will simply flood the area around the snow melting apparatus 100. This may be undesirable, particularly if the snow melting apparatus 100 is being used to melt snow while the outside temperature is below freezing. In such a situation, the liquid that flows out of the cavity 113 of the container 110 will freeze on the ground, creating a dangerous situation. By coupling a conduit, hose, or the like to the outlet port 101, the liquid exiting the cavity 113 of the container 110 can be carried to any desired location. The conduit, hose, or the like may have any necessary length sufficient to carry the liquid to an appropriate drain so that the liquid does not refreeze on the ground. This concept is described further with reference to FIG. 12.

In the exemplified embodiment, the container 110 includes two overflow ports 102. Although two overflow ports 102 are illustrated in the exemplified embodiment, a single overflow port or more than two overflow ports may be used in other embodiments. Each of the overflow ports 102 is formed into the sidewall 115 of the container 100 at an elevation near, but below, the top end 116 of the container 110. The overflow ports 102 are used if the liquid level within the cavity 113 gets too high and the outlet port (i.e., main drain) 101 is unable to keep up with the necessary drain speed. Specifically, in such situations the liquid in the cavity 113 will drain out through the overflow port(s) 102 to prevent the container 110 from overflowing over the top end 116 and becoming a nuisance to the operator and others nearby. The overflow ports 102 may be operably coupled to a desired discharge location such as a storm drain via appropriate piping to prevent the liquid from freezing on the ground and becoming a hazard as mentioned above with regard to the outlet port 101.

In the exemplified embodiment, the container 110 also includes two clean out ports 103. Although two clean out ports 103 are depicted in the exemplified embodiment, it is possible that a single clean out port or more than two clean out ports could be used in other embodiments. The clean out ports 103 are used for getting debris out of the container 110. The clean out ports 103 are normally closed by a cover plate 104, which is bolted to the container 110. A gasket (not shown) may be located between the cover plate 104 and the container 110 to ensure that the seal therebetween is water tight. If the cover plate 104 is removed to remove debris from the container 110, a new gasket may be required to facilitate the required seal.

The clean out ports 103 are openings in the sidewall 115 of the container 110 that are located adjacent to the floor 114 of the container 110. This is the desired location for the clean out ports 103 because it enables an operator or maintenance worker to sweep debris from the floor out of the cavity 113 via the clean out ports 103. If the clean out ports 103 were elevated above the floor 114, it would be more difficult to remove the debris from the cavity 113 of the container 110.

The container 110 includes a steam inlet port 201 for coupling the heating assembly 210 to a source of steam. In the exemplified embodiment, the steam inlet port 201 is an opening that extends through the sidewall 115 of the container 110. However, the steam inlet port 201 could alternatively be located in the floor 114 of the container 110. Thus, the exact location of the steam inlet port 201 is not limiting of the invention described herein so long as the steam inlet port 201 enables coupling the heating assembly 210 to a source of steam as described herein. As discussed below, the heating assembly 210 includes an inlet section that is coupled to the steam inlet port 201 of the container 110 so that steam from the source of steam can flow into the heating assembly 210.

Although not shown in the drawings, there may be included a flow control mechanism, such as an OS&Y gate valve or any of the other types of flow control mechanisms described herein, in order to control the flow of the steam from the source of steam into the heating assembly 210. In some embodiments, an OS&Y gate valve may be included that has a spool piece with two hose adaptors to enable two high pressure steam feeds to supply steam from a steam supply source to the heating assembly 210. Of course, a single high-pressure steam feed may be used in other embodiments if so desired.

Each of the inlet and outlet ports forms an opening or passageway between the cavity 113 of the container 110 and the exterior environment to permit the flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) either from the exterior environment into the cavity 113 or from the cavity 113 to the exterior environment. Thus, the inlet and outlet ports are essentially openings in the container 110 that permit the flow of fluids into and out of the cavity 113 of the container 110 as needed for proper operation of the snow melting apparatus 100. The exact location and positioning of the various inlet and outlet ports on the container 110 as shown in the drawings is not to be limiting of the present invention and the inlet and outlet ports may be positioned at other locations in other embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the heating assembly 210 and the spray assembly 250 will be further described. The heating assembly 210 is positioned within the cavity 113 of the container 110 and performs a heating function for the system. In the exemplified embodiment, an entirety of the heating assembly 210 is positioned within the cavity 113 of the container 110. The heating assembly 210 comprises a heating section 202 and a condensate recovery section 220 that are operably coupled together from a fluid flow standpoint so that fluid in the heating section 202 can flow into the condensate recovery section 220. Steam from a source of steam flows through the heating section 202 and condensate formed from the steam flows through the condensate recovery section 220.

The heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 comprises a heating conduit (or a series of heating conduits) 203 that spans the cavity 113 of the container 110. Specifically, the heating conduit 203 comprises an inlet section 211 that is coupled to the steam inlet port 201 of the container 210, a first header section 212, a second header section 214, and a plurality of distribution sections 213 that extend from the first header section 212 to the second header section 214. The inlet section 211, the first header section 212, the distribution sections 213, and the second header section 214 are all fluidly coupled together so that fluid (i.e. steam) that enters the inlet section 211 can flow into the first header section 212, the distribution sections 213, and the second header section 214.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second header sections 212, 214 are parallel to one another and each of the distribution sections 213 is parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first and second header sections 212, 214. However, the exact arrangement of the conduit(s) of the heating assembly 210 is not to be limiting of the present invention in all embodiments. The conduits of the heating assembly 210 may be arranged in a serpentine fashion or may otherwise crisscross or have contours or curved sections as they extend through the cavity 213 of the container 210. Furthermore, the first and second header sections 212, 214 may be located along the long sides of the container 210 rather than the short sides of the container 210 as shown in the exemplified embodiment. The conduits of the heating assembly 210 are merely desired to span across the cavity 213 to heat a liquid that is located in the cavity 213 as described herein.

As discussed further below, the inlet section 211 of the heating assembly 210 is coupled to the steam inlet port 201 and through this coupling the inlet section 211 of the heating assembly 210 may also be coupled to a source of steam. Thus, steam from the source of steam will flow through the steam inlet port 201, into the inlet section 211 of the heating assembly 210, and from there into the first header section 213, into and through each of the distribution sections 213, and then into the second header section 214. As will be discussed further below, the heating assembly 210, or at least the first and second header sections 212, 214 and the distribution sections 213 thereof, are located within the cavity 113 in such a manner that they are submerged within a liquid that is in the cavity 113. As a result, as the steam flows through the heating assembly 210, the heat from the steam is transferred to the liquid, thereby heating the liquid. At the same time, because the steam is transferring a portion of its heat energy to the liquid, the steam will turn to condensate within the heating assembly 210.

In that regard, the heating assembly 210 comprises the condensate recovery section 220 mentioned above. The condensate recovery section 220 is coupled to the heating section 202 so that condensate formed from the steam can flow into and through the condensate recovery section 220. The condensate recovery section 220 comprises a conduit 226 through which the condensate can flow from the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 into the cavity 113 of the container 110 (and more specifically, into a liquid contained within the cavity 113 of the container 110).

Specifically, the condensate recovery section 220 comprises an inlet 229 that is coupled to the heating section 202 and an outlet 228 that provides a passageway from the condensate recovery section 220 into the cavity 113 of the container 110. In the exemplified embodiment, the condensate recovery section 220 of the heating assembly 210 comprises a gate valve 221, a check valve 222, and a Y-strainer 223. However, one or more of these components may be omitted or modified into a similar type component in alternative embodiments as would be appreciated be persons in the art. The gate valve 221 has a handle 224 that can be actuated by an operator so that an operator can open and close the gate valve 221 varying amounts to permit and prevent the flow of condensate through the condensate recovery section 220. The check valve 222 prevents the condensate from flowing in the reverse direction back towards the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 to prevent the heating assembly 210 from flooding. The Y-strainer 223 strains debris that may be located within the condensate to prevent the debris from being passed back into the cavity 113. Specifically, the Y-strainer 223 ensures that the condensate flows through a strainer, mesh, screen, or other debris collector before flowing through the outlet 228. Of course, other types of debris capture mechanisms may be used, or such mechanisms and devices may be omitted depending on need.

During use, as the steam turns to condensate, an operator may throttle the gate valve 221 in order to determine the optimal position of the gate valve 221 to allow a desired flow rate of the condensate through the condensate recovery section 220 of the heating assembly 210. In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to release the condensate slowly, just enough to keep the steam moving through the heating assembly 210 so that it does not become water logged. Thus, an operator may throttle or otherwise adjust the gate valve 221 to determine the optimal positioning thereof and once the operator finds this “sweet spot,” the operator will no longer adjust the gate valve 221 but rather will allow the system to operate on its own. The outlet 228 of the condensate recovery section 220 of the heating assembly 210 is located within the cavity 113 of the container 110 so that the condensate is made to flow back into the cavity 113 of the container 110. Thus, when the cavity 113 is at least partially filled with a liquid as described herein, the condensate will flow into the liquid in the cavity 113. The condensate is formed from the steam, and thus the condensate has a very high temperature. Thus, flowing the condensate into the liquid in the cavity 113 will assist in heating the liquid which is a desired function of the snow melting apparatus 100.

The spray assembly 250 comprises a conduit 253 having an inlet 254 that is located within the cavity 113 of the container 110, a plurality of sprayers 251 fluidly coupled to the conduit 253, and a pump 252 for pumping the liquid from the cavity 113 to the sprayers 251. The spray assembly 250 is a separate assembly from the heating assembly 210. Thus, the conduits 253 of the spray assembly 250 are not in any way connected to the heating conduits 203 of the heating assembly 210. The spray assembly 250 and the heating assembly 210 are both in fluid coupling with the liquid in the cavity 113 of the container 110.

The sprayers 251 may be any device capable of spraying a liquid. For example, the sprayers 251 may be nozzles or they may simply be openings formed into the conduit 253 at desired locations so that the liquid flowing through the conduit 253 is sprayed out of the conduit 253 at the location of the openings. Thus, any component, element, or feature that can spray a liquid that is flowing through the conduit 253 may form the sprayers 251 of the present invention. In the exemplified embodiment, the sprayers 251 are located within the cavity 113 adjacent to the open top end 117 of the cavity 113. However, in other embodiments the sprayers 251 may be located in the cavity 113 further away from the open top end 117 than that which is depicted, and in still other embodiments the sprayers 251 may be located outside of and above the cavity 113 such that the sprayers 251 are configured to spray the liquid into the cavity 113 as described herein.

In the exemplified embodiment, the spray assembly 250 comprises two separate but identical assemblies located on opposite sides of the cavity 113 of the container 110. Thus, there are two pumps 252 on opposing corners/sides of the container 110. Furthermore, each pump 252 pumps the liquid to a different group of sprayers 251. In the exemplified embodiment, the sprayers 251 include a first plurality of sprayers 256 located on a first side of a longitudinal axis A-A (FIG. 1A) of the container 110 and a second plurality of sprayers 257 located on a second, opposite, side of the longitudinal axis A-A of the container 110. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second pluralities of sprayers 256, 257 includes ten sprayers that are spaced apart by approximately six inches. Of course, more or less than ten of the sprayers 251 may be used and the spacing between the sprayers 251 may be modified in alternative embodiments. Thus, in the exemplified embodiment there are ten sprayers arranged along each of two opposing sides of the container 110. During operation, the sprayers 251 on each side spray the liquid towards the sprayers 251 on the other side, which ensures adequate coverage of the snow deposited in the cavity 113 of the container 110, as described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 8-12. Of course, in other embodiments there may be only one set of sprayers on one side of the cavity 113 rather than the two as shown in the exemplified embodiment or the sprayers may be arranged in a spaced apart manner around the entire periphery of the cavity 113.

During operation, the pump 252 pumps liquid from the cavity 113 of the container 110 through the conduit 253 and to the sprayers 251 where the liquid can be sprayed onto snow within the container 110. The liquid that is pumped to the sprayers 251 is the heated liquid that has been heated by the heating assembly 210. In the exemplified embodiment, the pump 252 is at least partially submerged in the liquid in the cavity 113 during use. Thus, the pump 252 may be any submersible pump that is rated to deal with high water temperatures (in the ranges noted above). Furthermore, the pump 252 may be one that is configured to grind debris up to ¼″ in diameter so that the pump maintains functionality even if debris becomes located in the liquid as described herein. As best seen in FIG. 1B, the pumps 252 are protected by a cage 256, such as one formed by a perforated stainless steel, to minimize the amount of debris that enters the pump suction. Specifically, the cage 256 surrounds the pumps 252 to prevent debris from entering the immediate vicinity of the pumps 252. In one embodiment, the pumps 252 may be operated by being powered on and the float of the pump is mounted so that if the pump is powered on it is always operating.

Each of the sprayers 251 may have its own flow control mechanism (or valve) 255 for adjusting the pressure of the liquid that is sprayed via the sprayers 251. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the flow control mechanisms 255 is a ball valve, although other types of valves and other types of flow control mechanisms may be used in other embodiments. Partially closing the flow control mechanism 255 will cause the liquid to spray out of the sprayers 251 further than if the flow control mechanisms 255 are fully open, which may facilitate the sprayed liquid contacting all of the snow in the container 110. Thus, if the flow control mechanisms 255 are fully open the liquid/water spray may not reach all the way across the container 110, which is desired to quickly melt the snow therein as described herein. However, partially closing the flow control mechanisms 255 (for example, to approximately a halfway open position) may ensure that the liquid spray reaches all the way across the container 110. Each of the flow control mechanisms 255 is individually adjustable so that each sprayer 251 may spray the liquid under a different pressure and therefore a different distance. Thus, the flow control mechanisms 255 may be adjusted as necessary to maximize the spray across the load of snow to ensure adequate coverage and a quicker melting time.

Each of the sprayers 251 may also be configured to be adjustable in terms of its position relative to the cavity 113. Specifically, an angle at which each of the sprayers 251 is oriented relative to the cavity 113 may be modifiable. Thus, the sprayers 251 may be pivotable relative to the conduit 253 so that the sprayers 251 can be position-modified so that an angle at which each of the sprayers 251 sprays the liquid into the cavity 113 may be modified. The position/orientation of each of the sprayers 251 may be individually modified.

The snow melting apparatus 100 may also include a thermometer or other temperature sensor 350 (FIG. 9) positioned at a location such that it will monitor the temperature of the liquid in the container 110. Thus, the temperature sensor would be located within a lower portion of the container 110 so that it is submerged in the liquid that is added to the container 110 as described herein below.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 2, and 3, in the exemplified embodiment the support member 150 comprises a first support member 151 and a second support member 152. However, the invention is not to be so limited and the support member 150 may be a unitary component in other embodiments rather than being formed from two separate members. The support member 150 is located within the cavity 113 between the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 and the open top end 117 of the cavity 113. Thus, the support member 150 is located within the cavity 113 and at least partially covers the heating assembly 210. The support member 150 may have openings therein as discussed below and it may be spaced apart from the heating assembly 210, but it still partially covers the heating assembly 210 in the sense that an object must pass through or beyond the support member 150 to reach the portions of the heating assembly 210 that are covered by the support member 150. Thus, the support member 150 provides a protection function in that it prevents snow that is dumped into the cavity from directly contacting the very hot conduits of the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210. The support member 150 thereby also supports the snow that is dumped into the cavity 113. The support member 150 is positioned within the cavity 113 in a horizontal orientation so that the support member 150 extends generally parallel to the floor 114 of the container 110.

The support member 150 comprises a top surface 153 and a bottom surface 154. Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment, the support member 150 is a grating meaning the support member 150 is formed by a plurality of spaced apart, parallel elements or plates. Thus, in the exemplified embodiment the support member 150 comprises a plurality of openings 155 extending from the top surface 153 to the bottom surface 154, the openings 155 being formed in the spaces between the parallel elements or plates. The grating may be formed of only parallel elements/plates or a first set of parallel elements/plates and a second set of parallel plates/elements that are perpendicular to each other.

The openings 155 in the support member 150 enable the liquid in the cavity 113 to flow through the support member 150 so that the liquid can completely submerge the support member 150. However, the invention is not to be limited to the specific structure described herein for the support member 150 in all embodiments. In other embodiments, the support member 150 may be a solid plate-like member (i.e., without having any openings therein) without detracting from its ability to perform its function. In such an embodiment, the support member 150 may be positioned in the cavity 113 so as to be spaced from the inner surface 112 of the sidewall 115 on at least one side. As a result, the liquid in the cavity 113 will still be able to submerge the support member 150 even if it is not a grating and even if it does not have openings but is instead a solid structure.

The support member 150 may be formed of metal (i.e., galvanized iron, steel, or the like) in some embodiments, although the invention is not to be so limited and the support member 150 may be formed of other materials that are capable of withstanding the hot temperatures of the liquid without degradation thereof while still being able to support the snow in the cavity 113 as described herein.

The support member 150 may be coupled to the container 110 via welding. Alternatively, the support member 150 may rest atop of support plates (described below as bottom plates 160 and top plates 170) that support the heating assembly 210. Moreover, referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, the support member 150 may be alterable between: (1) a closed state in which the support member 150 is oriented horizontally and covers the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 (FIG. 1A); and (2) an open state in which at least a portion of the support member 150 is angled relative to the floor 114 of the container 110 to at least partially expose the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 and the floor 114 of the container (FIG. 2). To achieve this, the support member 150 may be connected to the container 110 via a welded hinge that permits the described movement of the support member 150. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, in the exemplified embodiment the first support member 151 of the support member 150 moves between the closed and open states. However, it is possible that either one or both of the first and second members 151, 152 may move between the open and closed states. Furthermore, in embodiments that include a unitary structure to form the support member 150, the entire support member 150 may move between the open and closed states.

The support member 150 may be moved to the open position during times that the snow melting apparatus 100 is non-operational. The open position allows an operator to gain access to the floor 114 of the container 110 for cleaning/removing of debris that may be placed into the cavity 113 along with the snow. The open position also allows the operator to gain access to the heating assembly 210 (for maintenance or the like) which is otherwise not possible because the heating assembly 210 is located beneath the support member 150. During operation of the snow melting apparatus 100, the support member 150 should always be in the closed or down position to prevent snow that is dumped into the cavity 113 from coming into direct contact with the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 and creating a violent flashing reaction.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 3, and 7, as noted above the snow melting apparatus 100 also comprises a protective member 140. In the exemplified embodiment, the protective member 140 comprises a first protective member 141 and a second protective member 142. In the exemplified embodiment, the protective member 140 is formed of a grating just like the support member 150. Thus, the protective member 140 is formed by elongated strips of material that are parallel and spaced apart so that openings exist through the protective member 140. However, as with the support member 150, the protective member 140 may also be formed of a solid structure in other embodiments such that it may not include any openings. The protective member 140 may be formed from a metal (i.e., galvanized iron or steel or the like) in the exemplified embodiment, although other rigid materials are possible such as plastic or the like in alternative embodiments.

Each of the first and second protective members 141, 142 extends from the top end 116 of the container 110 at an obtuse angle relative to the sidewall 115 of the container 110. Specifically, the first and second protective members 141, 142 extend in a direction towards the cavity 113 of the container 110 and away from the top end 116 of the container 110 such that the distal ends 143 of the first and second protective members 141, 142 are located further from the top end 116 of the container 110 than the ends of the first and second protective members 141, 142 that are connected to the container 110. Furthermore, the first and second protective members 141, 142 are positioned adjacent to the first and second pluralities of sprayers 256, 257, respectively. Thus, the first and second protective members 141, 142 serve a protection function in that they prevent certain debris from damaging the first and second pluralities of sprayers 256, 257. The first and second protective members 141, 142 may be omitted in some embodiments. Furthermore, when used, the first and second protective members 141, 142 may be removed for maintenance and cleaning.

More specifically, the first and second protective members 141, 142 terminate at the distal ends 143 which are located a first distance D1 from the inner surface 112 of the sidewall 115. The conduit 253 of the sprayer assembly 250 is located a second distance D2 from the inner surface 112 of the sidewall 115. The second distance D2 is less than the first distance D1 such that the first and second protective members 141, 142 extend further beyond the conduits 253. As a result, the first and second protective members 141, 142 prevent snow that is being dumped into the cavity from being thrown vertically downward directly onto the conduit 253.

As will be discussed in more detail below, the support member 150 provides protection to the heating assembly 210 and prevent a violent flashing reaction and the protection members 140 provided protection to conduits 253 of the spray assembly 250 and may also prevent a violent flashing reaction. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the support member 150 and the protective member 140 may be formed of galvanized metal (iron, steel, or the like) and includes a plurality of horizontal and vertically oriented plates or members that are coupled together in the arrangement as shown.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5 concurrently, the manner in which the heating assembly 210 and the spray assembly 250 are coupled to the container 110 will be described. The snow melting apparatus 100 comprises a plurality of bottom plates 160 that are secured to the floor 114 of the container 110 and a plurality of top plates 170 each of which is removably coupled to one of the bottom plates 160. The bottom plates 160 may be welded to the floor 114 or secured to the floor 114 using hardware such as screws, bolts, or the like as may be desired. The bottom and top plates 160, 170 may be coupled together via hardware (i.e., screws, bolts, nails, etc.) and/or plates 162. Each of the bottom and top plates 160, 170 may be formed of carbon steel in some embodiments, although the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments. Each of the bottom and top plates 160, 170 has a notch 161, 171 formed therein, and the notches 161, 171 are aligned when the top and bottom plates 160, 170 are coupled together. The alignment of the notches 161, 171 creates a passageway through the top/bottom plates 160, 170 when they are coupled together. The notches 161, 171 of each successive pair of the top and bottom plates 160, 170 are aligned.

When connected, the bottom and top plates 160, 170 serve as the support and expansion guide of the heating assembly 210. To install the heating assembly 210, the distribution sections 213 of the heating assembly 210 are placed within the notches 161 of the bottom plates 160. Then, the top plates 170 are coupled to the bottom plates 160, thereby trapping the distribution sections 213 between the top and bottom plates 160, 170. Thus, when installed in the container 110, the distribution sections 213 of the heating assembly 210 pass through the openings formed by the notches 161, 171 formed into the bottom and top plates 160, 170. Thus, the bottom and top plates 160, 170 securely retain the distribution sections 213 of the heating assembly 210 and support heating assembly 210 within the cavity 113 of the container 110. The heating assembly 210 is supported above the floor 114 of the container 110 so that the liquid in the cavity 113 can flow all around the heating assembly 210 and can fully submerge the heating assembly 210.

Furthermore, a plurality of support plates 180 are coupled to the inner surface 112 of the sidewall 115 of the container 110 to support the conduit 253 of the sprayer assembly 250. The support plates 180 protrude from the inner surface 112 of the sidewall 115 of the container 110 into the cavity 113. Furthermore, the support plates 180 have notches 181 within which the conduit 253 of the sprayer assembly 250 nest. Additional hardware and plates may be included to secure the conduit 253 to the support plates 180 if so desired. However, the conduit 253 may simply nest within the notches 181 to support the conduit 253 at the desired position/location within the cavity 113.

Referring to FIGS. 8-12 sequentially, operation of the snow melting apparatus 100 will be described. Referring to FIG. 8, as noted above the heating assembly 210 is positioned within the cavity 113 of the container 100. The cavity 113 of the container 100 comprises a lower section 108 and an upper section 109. In the exemplified embodiment, the cavity 113 is conceptually divided into the lower and upper sections 108, 109 by the support member 150. Specifically, the lower portion 108 of the cavity 113 is defined between the floor 114 of the container 110 and the bottom surface 154 of the support member 150 and the upper portion 109 of the cavity 113 is defined between the top surface 153 of the support member 150 and the open top end 117 of the cavity 113. As seen in this figure, the support member 150 at least partially covers the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210. Specifically, the support member 150 covers the first and second header sections 212, 214 as well as the distribution sections 213. The support member 150 may have openings as described above, and thus the term “cover” as used in this context includes such an embodiment.

In the exemplified embodiment, the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 is located, for the most part, within the lower portion 108 of the cavity 113. Thus, the heating conduits 203 that include the first and second header sections 212, 214 and the distribution sections 213 are located in the lower portion 108 of the cavity 113. In the exemplified embodiment, the inlet section 211 is located in the upper portion 109 of the cavity 113, but the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the inlet section 211 could also be located in the lower portion 108 of the cavity 113 in other embodiments.

Before beginning operation, the operator must ensure that the support member 150 is in the closed state (i.e., the down position). This is necessary in order to protect against a violent flashing reaction when snow is added to the cavity 113 of the container 110 as mentioned above. Once the support member 150 is in the closed state, the operator can begin to fill the cavity 113 of the container 110 with a liquid 119. In the exemplified embodiment, the liquid 119 is water. However, other liquids may be used so long as they have a sufficiently high boiling point that they can be heated to the desired temperature without boiling and so long as they are non-toxic because the liquid 119 may eventually be discharged to a sewer. The liquid 119 can be added into the cavity 113 of the container 110 through the open top end 117 of the cavity 113 as shown in FIG. 8 or through a port in a wall of the container 110. The liquid 119 may be potable or non-potable water in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the liquid 119 may be rain water if the snow melting apparatus 100 is being used at a facility that utilizes a rain water collection system.

In the exemplified embodiment, the liquid 119 is poured into the container 110 until it fully submerges the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 and the support member 150 (FIG. 9). In other embodiments the level of the liquid 119 may not fully submerge the support member 150, but it may be flush with the top surface 153 of the support member 150, flush with the bottom surface 154 of the support member 150, or the like. Regardless of the exact level of the liquid in the cavity 113, the liquid 119 should completely submerge the distribution sections 213 of the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210. It may be preferable for the liquid 119 to fully submerge the support member 150 so that snow that is placed into the cavity 113 directly contacts the liquid 119 in the cavity 113, which allows the liquid 119 to heat the snow from below to assist in the melting process. If the liquid 119 is below the top surface 153 of the support member 150, the snow will rest atop of the top surface 153 of the support member 150 but may not come into direct contact with the liquid 119 in the cavity 113.

FIG. 9 illustrates the snow melting apparatus 100 with the liquid 119 filling the cavity 113 to the desired level. In this embodiment, the liquid 119 fills the cavity 113 so that the support member 150 is fully submerged in the liquid 119. At this point, additional liquid is no longer being added. Of course, the level of the liquid could be higher than that shown in FIG. 9 in alternative embodiments so long as there is sufficient space/volume within the cavity 113 to add snow so that it can be melted. In the exemplified embodiment, a sufficient amount of the liquid 119 is present in the cavity 113 of the container 110 to submerge the distribution sections 213 of the heating assembly 210. Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment the liquid 119 is also completely submerging the support member 150 such that the surface level of the liquid 119 is above the top surface 153 of the support member 150, although varying levels of the liquid 119 may be used as mentioned above.

Next, still referring to FIG. 9, a source of steam 300 is coupled to the steam inlet port 201 of the container 100 to operably couple the source of steam 300 to the heating assembly 210. Thus, FIG. 9 illustrates the snow melting system 1000 that comprises the snow melting apparatus 100 and the source of steam 300 in an operably coupled arrangement. The coupling between the snow melting apparatus 100 and the source of steam 300 may be achieved with a flexible high-pressure steam hose or some other piping or conduits that are designed for this purpose. The source of steam 300 may be any source of steam that enables steam to flow into the heating assembly 210 when the source of steam 300 is operably coupled thereto. For example, the source of steam 300 may be a boiler or other steam generator. In some embodiments the source of steam 300 may be an existing boiler or the like that is already present and in use within a building. For example, a boiler may exist in a building for purposes of heating the building (and/or other buildings) with the steam generated by the boiler. The heating assembly 210 of the snow melting apparatus 100 may be operably coupled to the boiler or to some location downstream of the boiler where the steam generated by the boiler is flowing to pull the steam into the snow melting system 1000 described herein. As another example, some cities have steam pipes running under the sidewalks with steam flowing through them, and the heating assembly 210 may tie into these steam pipes to acquire the necessary steam to operate the snow melting apparatus 100 and melt snow. Thus, the heating assembly 210 of the snow melting apparatus 100 may be coupled to an existing boiler so that the steam generated thereby can be used in the snow melting process. Thus, the source of steam is an external source of steam. In such an embodiment, no new source for the steam is required, which cuts down on costs.

In some embodiments, the source of steam 300 is a source of high pressure steam. The pressure of the steam may be in a range of 1 PSIG to 100 PSIG. In some embodiments, the high-pressure steam may be steam having a pressure greater than 15 PSIG, greater than 30 PSIG, greater than 40 PSIG, greater than 50 PSIG, greater than 60 PSIG, greater than 70 PSIG, greater than 80 PSIG, or greater than 90 PSIG. In some preferable embodiments, the steam may have a pressure in a range of 75 PSIG to 105 PSIG. The steam 300 may have a temperature in a range of 200° F. to 400° F., more specifically between 215° F. and 350° F. Of course, pressures and temperatures outside of the noted ranges may be possible in other embodiments.

Once the source of steam 300 is operably coupled to the heating assembly 210, the operator may control flow of the steam into the heating assembly 210 using a flow control mechanism such as a valve that is located between the source of steam 300 and the steam inlet port 201 (or within or adjacent to the steam inlet port 201). Of course, the flow control mechanism may be omitted so that steam flows into the heating assembly 210 as soon as the source of steam 300 is coupled to the heating assembly 210.

During operation, the flow control mechanism (i.e., valve) is open and steam flows from the source of steam 300 into the heating assembly 210 (depicted with arrows). Specifically, the steam 300 flows into the inlet section 211 of the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210, from there into the first header section 212, from there into the distribution section 213, and from there into the second header section 214. As the steam flows through the distribution sections 213 of the heating assembly 210, the steam heats the liquid 119 that is present in the cavity 113 of the container 110 and that submerges the distribution sections 213. Specifically, due to heat transfer, the heat of the steam will pass into the liquid 119 in the cavity 113 of the container 110 and heat the liquid 119 (despite the fact that there is no direct contact between the steam and the liquid 119 because they are separated by the heating conduits 203). In certain embodiments, the steam may heat the liquid 119 in the cavity 113 to a temperature of between 150° F. and 210° F., more specifically between 160° F. and 200° F., still more specifically between 170° F. and 190° F., and still more specifically approximately 180° F. In other embodiments, the liquid may be heated to a temperature of between 160° F. and 200° F., and more specifically between 180° F. and 200° F. Of course, other temperature ranges are possible so long as the temperature of the liquid is sufficient to melt snow in a quick and efficient manner.

The steam continues to flow through the heating assembly 210 thereby maintaining the temperature of the liquid 119 at approximately 180° F. (or any other temperature or range as discussed herein above). Thus, the heating assembly 210 and the liquid 119 in the cavity 113 form a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the steam to the liquid 119.

As noted previously, as the steam within the heating assembly 210 heats the liquid 119 in the cavity 113, the steam will cool and turn to condensate. At the threshold or instant of phase change from steam to liquid/condensate, the condensate temperature is substantially the same as the steam temperature because only the latent heat has been lost. Thus, the condensate is at a very high temperature, which can be valuable to assist in the heating of the liquid 119 in the cavity 113. Thus, while the steam is flowing through the heating assembly 210, the operator may throttle the steam outlet formed by the gate valve 221 using the handle 224 to prevent the condensate formed from the steam from flooding the heating assembly 210. Throttling the flow of steam/condensate ensures that the condensate is removed from the heating assembly 210 by flowing the condensate from the heating section 202 of the heating assembly 210 into the condensate recovery section 250 of the heating assembly 210, and then out through the outlet 228 of the condensate recovery section 250.

In the exemplified embodiment, controlling the opening and closing of the gate valve 221 is achieved by rotating the handle 224. In the exemplified embodiment, the handle 224 is located in the cavity 113 and is submerged in the heated liquid 119 in the cavity 113. Furthermore, the handle 224 is positioned beneath the support member 150 so access to the handle 224 may be difficult. Thus, an operator cannot simply grip the handle 224 and rotate it to open and close the gate valve 221. In the exemplified embodiment, the handle 224 can be accessed with a customized wrench that enables an operator to adjust the gate valve 221 using the handle 224 from outside of the cavity 113 of the container 110. Of course, in other embodiments the handle 224 may not be submerged in the liquid 119 and may extend so as to protrude from the cavity 113 so that it is readily accessible by an operator rather than requiring the operator to use a customized wrench.

In the exemplified embodiment, the condensate flows from the condensate recovery section 250 of the heating assembly 210 into the liquid 119 in the cavity 113 of the container 110. Specifically, as the steam turns to condensate, the condensate flows into the condensate recovery section 220 of the heating assembly 210. The condensate flows through the condensate recovery section 220 in the direction indicated by the arrows until the condensate exits the condensate recovery section 220 via the outlet 228. In the exemplified embodiment, the condensate recovery section 220, or at least the outlet 228 thereof, is submerged in the liquid 119 in the cavity 113. Thus, as the condensate exits the condensate recovery section 220, the condensate mixes directly with the liquid 119. Of course, the condensate recovery section 220 need not be submerged in the liquid 119 in all embodiments because as long as the outlet 228 forms a passageway into the cavity 113, the condensate exiting the condensate recovery section 220 will mix with the liquid 119 in the cavity 113 soon thereafter. Because the condensate is approximately as hot as the steam, the condensate will assist in heating the liquid 119 to the desired temperature as described above.

Thus, the heating assembly 210 described herein is a closed system in that all heat passing through the snow melting system 1000 remains in the system. Specifically, none of the heat of the steam or condensate is escaping into the environment. Rather, the steam is flowing directly from the source of steam 300 into the heating assembly 210 where the steam heats the liquid 119 via heat transfer. The condensate formed as a result of the steam transferring a portion of its heat is passed directly into the liquid 119 to further facilitate the heating of the liquid 119.

Referring to FIG. 10, after the temperature of the liquid 119 is raised to between 180° F. and 200° F. (or within the other ranges described herein), a desired amount of snow 120 is dumped into the cavity 113 of the container 110. The snow 120 may be dumped into the cavity 113 using front end loaders, manually using shovels, or any other feasible and desirable manner. The snow 120 is placed into the cavity 113 via the open top end 117 of the cavity 113. When the snow 120 is dumped into the container 110, the snow 120 rests atop the top surface 153 of the support member 150. The support member 150 prevents the bulk of the snow 120 from passing beyond it to directly contact the heating assembly 210, which is important to prevent a violent flashing reaction as described herein. It is possible that some of the snow 120 may pass through the openings in the support member 150. However, this will be very small amounts of the snow 120 that will be insufficient to cause a violent flashing reaction. Specifically, the support member 150 is spaced apart from the heating assembly 210 by a gap that is filled with the heated liquid 119. Thus, the liquid 119 will heat the small amounts of snow 120 that pass through the support member 150 before those amounts of snow 120 contact the heating assembly 210.

As the snow 120 is resting atop the top surface 153 of the support member 150, the snow 120 is heated from below by the liquid 119 in the cavity 113. This occurs in the exemplified embodiment because the surface level of the liquid 119 is above the top surface 153 of the support member 150. Thus, the snow 120 is in direct contact with the liquid 119 as it rests atop of the top surface 153 of the support member 150 as shown in FIG. 10.

While the snow 120 is being dumped into the container 110 and after the snow 120 is done being dumped into the container 110, the steam continues to flow through the heating assembly 210 as described herein to maintain the temperature of the liquid 119 at approximately 180° F. or between 180° F. and 200° F. or other temperature ranges as described herein. Furthermore, the condensate from the steam continues to flow through the condensate recovery section 220 of the heating assembly 210 and into the liquid 119 in the cavity 113. As noted above, a temperature sensor 350 may be placed within the cavity 113 of the container 110 in the region that is filled with the liquid 119 to continuously monitor the temperature of the liquid 119 during operation.

Referring to FIG. 11, in order to speed up the snow melting process, the liquid 119 will also be sprayed onto the snow 120 from above. Specifically, after a desired amount of the snow 120 has been dumped into the container 110 (or at any time after the liquid 119 is heated to the desired temperature), the operator will power on the pump 252. The pump 252 is either directly, or indirectly via some piping, tubing, or conduit, fluidly coupled to the liquid 119 in the container 110. In the exemplified embodiment, the inlet 254 of the conduit 253 of the spray assembly 250 is submerged within the liquid 119 in the cavity 113. Thus, powering on the pump 252 will immediately cause the pump 252 to pump the liquid 119 from its location in the lower portion 108 of the cavity 113 of the container 110 through the conduit 253 of the spray assembly 250. The liquid 119 is at this point in time already heated by the steam as described above. Thus, heated liquid 119 is pumped from the cavity 113, through the conduit 253 of the spray assembly 250 to the sprayers 251 of the spray assembly 250.

Thus, the heated liquid 119 passes through the conduit 253 and out through the sprayers 251 of the spray assembly 250 into the cavity 113 where the liquid 119 being sprayed contacts the snow 120 in the cavity 113 from above. The sprayers 251 may be oriented to be pointing upwardly at a slight angle to increase the distance that the liquid 119 may be sprayed out of the sprayers 251. Furthermore, as noted above the flow control mechanisms 255 may be partially closed to increase the distance that the liquid 119 can be sprayed 251. The angle of the sprayers 251 and the position of the flow control mechanisms 255 may be adjusted to obtain a desired spray distance to ensure adequate coverage of the snow 120 in the container 110. Thus, when fully operational, the snow melting apparatus 100 heats the snow 120 from below via the liquid 119 in the container 110 and above via the liquid 119 being sprayed through the sprayers 251. This results in the snow 120 melting very quickly.

As the snow 120 melts, the snow 120 combines with the liquid 119 in the cavity 113 of the container 110. This will reduce the temperature of the liquid 119 in the cavity 113. However, the steam continues to flow through the heating assembly 210 to heat up the liquid 119 in the container 110 to maintain the temperature of the liquid 119 at the desired levels. Referring to FIG. 12, as the liquid level increases due to the melting snow, the operator will open the outlet port 101 to permit the liquid 119 to exit from the container 110 to the exterior environment. The container 110 may be placed adjacent to a storm outlet 400 so that the liquid 119 exiting the container 110 will flow directly and immediately into the storm outlet. However, if the container 110 is not or cannot be placed adjacent to a storm outlet 400, a pipe, hose, or other type of conduit 401 should be run from the outlet port 101 of the container 110 to a storm outlet 400 to prevent icy patches from being created as described above.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may include an automatic control system (not shown) for controlling the operating parameters of the snow melting system 1000. Thus, the snow melting system 1000 may include a control unit or processor that is operably coupled to each of the flow control mechanisms, valves, pumps, and the like described herein. The processor may be pre-programmed with algorithms or the like that facilitate opening and closing of the flow control mechanisms and powering the pumps on and off as needed so that it can all occur autonomously without operator intervention. In such an embodiment, the system 1000 would include any liquid level sensors, alarms, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and any other controls needed to automate the process. The processor would be operably coupled to all necessary components to send signals to and receive signals from those components to ensure proper operation of the system 1000.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A snow melting system comprising: a source of steam; a container defining a cavity having an open top end; a liquid in the cavity; a heating assembly positioned within the cavity, the heating assembly comprising: a heating section operably coupled to the source of steam and submerged in the liquid so that steam from the source of steam flows through the heating section to heat the liquid; and a condensate recovery section operably coupled to the heating section, the condensate recovery section having an outlet providing a passageway into the cavity of the container so that condensate from the steam flows through the condensate recovery section and into the liquid in the cavity; and a spray assembly fluidly coupled to the liquid in the cavity, the spray assembly comprising a plurality of sprayers located above the liquid in the cavity and a pump for pumping the liquid from the cavity to the sprayers, wherein the sprayers are configured to spray the liquid back into the cavity.
 2. The snow melting system according to claim 1 wherein the source of steam is a high-pressure steam generated by a boiler or a steam generator.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The snow melting system according to claim 1 further comprising a support member located within the cavity between the heating section of the heating assembly and the open top end of the cavity, the support member at least partially covering the heating section of the heating assembly to prevent snow that is dumped into the cavity from contacting the heating section of the heating assembly.
 5. The snow melting system according to claim 4 wherein the support member is a grating having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the top surface to the bottom surface so that the liquid in the cavity can flow through the openings in the grating.
 6. The snow melting system according to claim 5 wherein the support member is submerged in the liquid such that the surface level of the liquid in the cavity is above the top surface of the support member.
 7. The snow melting system according to claim 4 wherein the support member is alterable between: (1) a closed state in which the support member is oriented horizontally and covers the heating section of the heating assembly; and (2) an open state in which at least a portion of the support member is angled relative to a floor of the cavity to at least partially expose the heating section of the heating assembly.
 8. The snow melting system according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises an outlet port for draining the liquid from the cavity.
 9. The snow melting system according to claim 1 wherein each of the sprayers comprises a flow control mechanism configured to control a pressure of the liquid being sprayed through the sprayer, and wherein an angle at which each of the sprayers sprays the liquid into the cavity is adjustable.
 10. The snow melting system according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises a floor and a sidewall extending upwardly from the floor to a top end that surrounds the open top end of the cavity, and further comprising a protective member extending from the top end of the container at an obtuse angle relative to the sidewall in a direction towards the cavity of the container, wherein the protective member is adjacent to the sprayers.
 11. The snow melting system according to claim 1 wherein the heating assembly heats the liquid in the cavity to a temperature between 160° F. and 200° F.
 12. (canceled)
 13. The snow melting system according to claim 1 wherein the heating assembly further comprises a flow control mechanism downstream of the heating section of the heating assembly and upstream of the outlet of the condensate recovery section of the heating assembly to control a flow rate of the condensate through the condensate recovery section.
 14. A snow melting apparatus comprising: a container having a floor and an inner surface that define a cavity having an open top end, the cavity having a lower portion adjacent the floor and an upper portion adjacent the open top end; a heating assembly positioned within the cavity, the heating assembly comprising a heating conduit located within the lower portion of the cavity, the heating assembly configured to heat a liquid contained within the lower portion of the container; a spray assembly comprising an inlet positioned in the lower portion of the cavity, a plurality of sprayers located above the lower portion of the cavity, and a pump configured to pump a liquid from the lower portion of the cavity to the sprayers, the sprayers configured to spray the liquid back into the cavity; and a support member positioned within the cavity between the heating conduit of the heating assembly and the open top end of the cavity, the support member at least partially covering the heating conduit of the heating assembly.
 15. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the heating assembly comprises a condensate recovery conduit operably coupled to the heating conduit, the condensate recovery conduit comprising an outlet that provides a passageway into the lower portion of the cavity.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the support member is a grating comprising a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the lower portion of the cavity is located between the floor of the container and the bottom surface of the grating and the upper portion of the cavity is located between the top surface of the grating and the open top end of the cavity, the openings in the grating forming a passageway between the upper and lower portions of the cavity.
 19. A method of melting snow comprising: a) providing a snow melting apparatus comprising a container having a cavity with an open top end and a heating assembly positioned within the cavity; b) at least partially filling the cavity of the container with a liquid until a heating section of the heating assembly is submerged in the liquid; c) coupling the heating assembly to a source of steam so that the steam flows through the heating section of the heating assembly and heats the liquid in the cavity to form a heated liquid having a desired temperature; d) placing an amount of snow in the cavity via the open top end of the cavity; and e) pumping the heated liquid to a plurality of sprayers that spray the heated liquid onto the snow within the cavity to melt the snow.
 20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the source of steam is high-pressure steam generated by an existing boiler or steam generator located within a building.
 21. (canceled)
 22. The method according to claim 19 wherein during step d) the snow is placed on a support member that is located between the heating section of the heating assembly and the open top end of the cavity.
 23. (canceled)
 24. (canceled)
 25. The method according to claim 19 wherein during step c) a condensate is formed from the steam, and further comprising flowing the condensate into the liquid located within the cavity.
 26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the condensate flows through a condensate recovery section of the heating assembly, the condensate recovery section of the heating assembly having an outlet that forms a passageway into the cavity.
 27. The method according to claim 19 wherein the desired temperature is between 180° F. and 200° F. 28.-30. (canceled) 